Device for segregating pool balls



April 22, 1969 J. H. SCHWEER 3,439,915

DEVICE FOR SEGREGATING POOL BALLS Filed May 9. 1966 34 R T] g 5 32 JOHN H. SEWER United States Patent U.S. Cl. 273-11 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a device for segregating game balls on a pool or billiard table having a plurality of pockets around its periphery. A channel means interconnects all pockets and slopes to a plurality of openings where a sliding valve member directs the balls to a selected receptacle. Means is provided to move the sliding member to open a selected'one of the openings, comprising a longitudinally movable member extending completely around the periphery of the table and connected to the sliding member so that a player can pull the movable member in either direction so as to open a selected opening. Preferably, the movable member is flexible, for example a rope, and extends over pulleys at the corners of the table.

My invention relates to a pool table appurtenance and more particularly to a device for directing the pool balls, after they are scored by rolling into any pocket, to a preselected compartment.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and novel ball rack which can be attached to an existing pool table or built-in when the table is manufactured.

A more particular object of my invention is to provide a ball rack which contains a separate compartment for each player or team.

A further object of my invention is to provide a diverting means or two-way valve which can direct the balls into either of said separate compartments in the rack.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible elongated member such as a rope or cable supported on pulleys around the table attached to said valve to be actuated as desired by a player standing at any position around the table.

On some pool tables there exists a channel means (sometimes called a trough) which directs the pocketed balls from any pocket to a single compartment at the end of the table from which the balls must be removed and relocated in another holding rack for each player until the end of the game.

Other types of tables have no troughs, in which case each pocketed ball must be manually removed, each time, before an opposing player takes his turn to shoot.

The moving and replacing of the balls in a separate rack causes delay because someone must move around the table and check all the pockets, and then place them in the proper rack.

The particular advantage of my invention is that it makes it possible for the players to continue the game without the aforesaid interruptions. Each player merely pulls the cable to his right or left and proceeds to shoot. The balls consequently are not manually handled until the end of the game. The score can be tallied at any time by observing the already segregated balls in the compartments.

The above and other features of my inven ion will become evident in the following description, the drawing and the appended claims.

FIG. 1 represents a sectional plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 with the pool table top shown in dotted lines;

3,439,915 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 partially broken away; and

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

A V-shaped trough 10 (FIG. 1) extends around three sides of a pool table 11 (shown dotted). The end trough 12 slopes both ways toward the middle of the table and is connected to each of the side troughs 13 and 14 which extend the full length of the table 11 under each of the six pockets.

An elongated hole 15 is located in the middle of end trough 12 toward which the floor 16 of the side troughs 13 and 14 slope as indicated by arrows 20.

Underneath the said hole 15 is a sliding member which forms a valve 21 supported on a track 22. To the left of center of track 22 is a hole (sometimes called an entrance) 23 and to the right of center of track 22 is another hole (also sometimes called an entrance) 24, each leading to the two compartments 24 and 25 with floors 26 and 27 respectively that slope away from center at approximately 10 from the horizontal.

There is a window 30 in the end panel 31 which allows a full view of all the balls 32a when they are in the compartments 24, 25.

A bar 32 which is fastened to valve 21 by screws 33 (shown dotted) extends through a slot 34 in the end panel 31 to receive the ends of a cable 35. Said cable 35 is supported and guided continuously around the table by means of four pulleys 36, 37, 38', 39.

With my invention installed on a table, the players decide which of the two collecting compartments they each will use. For example, player A chooses the left compartment and player B the right one. Wherever player A is around the table, he first pulls the cable 35 to the right and proceeds to play. All of the balls that he pockets will roll down the troughs and finally be collected in the left compartment. Player B pulls the cable 35 to the left and proceeds to play immediately, as there is no need to move or relocate the balls. Then all of the balls that he pockets will be collected in the right-hand compartment 25.

It is obvious that the cable can be crossed over and doubled back on the pulleys 36 and 39 and then connected to the bar 32, in which case pulling the cable to the right will move the valve 21 to the left and the balls will be collected in the right compartment 25, and vice versa.

This invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description and the drawing but only within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pool or billiard table having a peripheral along which pockets are spaced for receiving game balls, a device for segregating game balls from one another comprising: channel means interconnecting all pockets and sloped toward an opening therethrough; a plurality of receptacles, each having an entrance thereto, each of said entrances being in communication with the opening so as to receive game balls from the channel means; valve means comprising a track and a sliding member mounted on said track for movement to selected positions whereby to close all but a selected one of said entrances at a time, all of said entrances being selectable; and means connected to the sliding member to slide said sliding member along said track so as to open a selected one of said entrances, said last named means comprising a longitudinally movable member extending completely peripherally around the table and adapted to be pulled in either direction to move the sliding member to make said selection.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to slide said sliding member comprises a flexible, elongated member, pulleys guiding said elongated member, said elognated member being looped around said table whereby movement of said elongated member in one direction will move said sliding member to a first position and movement of said elongated member in the opposite direction will move said sliding member to a second position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said receptacles has a window for viewing the contents therein.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are two of said receptacles.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to slide said sliding member comprises a rope, pulleys guiding said rope, said rope being looped around said table whereby movement of said rope in one direction will move said sliding member to a first position closing 15 the entrance to one of said receptacles and movement of said rope in the opposite direction will move said sliding member to close the entrance of the other of said receptacles.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of said receptacles has a window for viewing the contents there- 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein there are two of said receptacles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,123 7/1887 Marghieri 27311 507,900 10/1893 Gos s 27311 857,057 6/1907 Haskell 273--11 934,380 9/1909 Bailey ,273-11 1,391,909 9/1921 McCool 273-41 3,084,936 4/ 1963 Sikes 273-11 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

THOMAS ZACK, Assistant Examiner. 

